infradian rhythms

Question 1

what is an infradian rhythm?

Answer 1

Frequency of less than one cycle in 24 hours, such as menstruation and seasonal affective disorder.

Question 2

what are 2 main examples?

Answer 2

menstrual cycle, seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Question 3

outline the menstrual cycle?

Answer 3

28 days long
occurs due to oestrogen and progesterone.
endogenous pacemaker yet influence from EZ

Question 4

which study explored syncronisation of cycle?

Answer 4

Stern and McClintock (1998)
29 women w irregular periods
pheromones of 9 women placed on upper lip of other 20
68% experienced change in cycle to the odor donor, impact of EZ

Question 5

what is seasonal affective disorder?

Answer 5

Depression associated with seasonal changes, usually the onset of winter and decreased darkness.

Question 6

ao3 evolutionary basis?

Answer 6

strength
synchronisation explained by natural selection .
in past women would birth at same time to increase chance of child surviving if mother didn’t.

Question 7

ao3 methodological issues?

Answer 7

stern and McClintock may have confounding variables
could be coinsidence, not casual relationship
all have irregular periods, could be different with regular